It would be an understatement of incredible proportions to say it's been an interesting season for former UConn defensive back Robert McClain.

McClain was signed by the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots after three productive seasons with the Atlanta Falcons but he was among the last players to be cut. After getting a couple of tryouts, he was signed by the then undefeated Carolina Panthers. Now he is headed to the Super Bowl after Carolina's 49-15 win over Arizona in the NFC title game.

McClain had six tackles and two pass breakups (one which nearly resulted in an interception) giving him 14 tackles and three PBUs in two playoff games.

I caught up with McClain this summer when he volunteered at the football camp run by former UConn receiver Marcus Easley and he talked a bit about the move from Atlanta to New England.

"There are changes all over the NFL, it happens every year but the only thing I can control is what I can do," McClain said. "I had a good career in Atlanta. It is part of the business, guys go to different teams and they move around a lot."

I asked him about the advice he would give to players like Byron Jones and other UConn defensive backs looking to make it onto an NFL roster.

"It is work ethic, if you have the right work ethic and can take coaching especially at the DB position," McClain said. "You are going to get beat some times against great receivers but if you work hard at your craft, being smart, working hard and contribute any way you can

"Everybody wants to see their college with a lot of guys. I know guys back at UConn, I talked to Byron a little bit and it is good seeing UConn guys getting into the pros because we all have that same work ethic."

Today was Marcus Easley's fifth annual football camp and after never being able to make it down there to catch up with the former UConn receiver, I was able to make the trip to Trumbull this morning.

It was actually a 2 for the price of 1 deal as Robert McClain was also there supporting his former college teammate.

I wrote a story focusing on Easley's desire to give back to the community he grew up in which should be up on the Register's site later on this afternoon. Both Easley and McClain spoke about the addition of Byron Jones, Geremy Davis, B.J. McBryde and Deshon Foxx to the list of UConn products in NFL training camps.

"Everybody wants to see their college with a lot of guys (in the NFL)," said McClain, who signed with the New England Patriots after three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. "I know guys back at UConn, I talked to Byron a little bit and it is good seeing UConn guys getting into the pros because we all have that same work ethic."

Davis is the first receiver from UConn selected in the NFL draft since Easley became the first former UConn WR drafted by an NFL team in 2010.

"He is a big strong physical guy, we are both from UConn so I am definitely (pulling for him)," Easley said. "I understand the grind and I would just tell him to keep doing what you are doing because it got you this far and it is only going to continue to take you places."

Speaking of receivers, fellow Bills wideouts Deonte Thompson and Robert Woods were among the NFL players taking part in today's camp.

"Guys don't like asking for help at this level so the fact that they reached out to me 'whatever you need, we will be there for you,'" Easley said. "They came from Buffalo, we have a few that came from Tampa and that just shows the love that is out there. The guys support me and I would do the same for them."

Easley, who signed a four-year extension in March, is somewhat excited about the changes in Buffalo including the hiring of former New York Jets coach Rex Ryan as the Bills new coach.

"It is pretty exciting, they couldn't have picked a better coach for us to play for knowing how things went the last two seasons," Easley said. "I'm not saying that (Doug) Marrone isn't a good coach or anything but it was a transition that needed to be made and who doesn't love Rex Ryan? He is a player's coach, he definitely won the team over and it is a really good vibe right now. They made some big splashes in free agency and signed me as well so I am grateful for that. They (Buffalo fans) haven't been this excited in a long, long time."

Easley doesn't get back to UConn as often as he would like. He was there in November when the memorial was unveiled in honor of slain former UConn cornerback Jasper Howard.

"There are a lot of new faces up there with the coaching changes," Easley said. "They had two new coaches since I have been there so any opportunity I get to go I try to but the last time I was there was last season when they unveiled the statue for Jasper Howard and it was good to see everybody. It was special but it makes you reminisce about that day and that night when I got that call. It is unfortunate something like that happens but it just makes you appreciate those guys because we have been through a life changing experience."

While Easley has been with Buffalo since he was drafted, McClain is on his fourth NFL team. He happens to be joining the defending Super Bowl champions.

"I am just excited to be on the team and ready to contribute and help the team," McClain said. "There are changes all over the NFL, it happens every year but the only thing I can control is what I can do.

"I had a good career in Atlanta. It is part of the business, guys go to different teams and they move around a lot."

There haven't been many positives for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season but the play of former UConn linebacker Danny Lansanah has been a revelation. Lansanah had an interception in Sunday's 27-7 win over Washington. It was his third interception this season, the most for any linebacker in the league.

Blidi Wreh-Wilson had his best game of the season according to the Pro Football Focus site. He was targeted nine times and gave up just three catches for 22 yards. It was the second time this season Wreh-Wilson allowed less than 50 percent of the targets against him to be completed.

Robert McClain, who had just six tackles in the previous four games, moved back into a prominent role on the Atlanta Falcons' defense after Robert Alford was knocked out of Sunday's game against Carolina with a wrist injury. McClain had four tackles in the game and with Alford expected to miss 2-4 weeks, McClain is expected to start for the Falcons.

However, the former Husky making the most news this week is Dwayne Gratz. With the Jacksonville Jaguars have a bye Gratz was in Miami and his arrest for allegedly causing a disturbance after his attempt to pay for items with bubble gum was rebuffed made national headlines. According to multiple media reports, he was arrested after refusing to leave the store.

Will Beatty, OT New York Giants: Started in 16-10 loss to San Francisco
Donald Brown, RB San Diego: Had one carry for no yards and a 4-yard catch in 13-6 win over Oakland
Darius Butler, CB Indianapolis: Had two tackles in 42-20 loss to New England
Marcus Easley, WR Buffalo: Returned to action for first time in nearly two months but did not have catch or tackle in 22-9 loss to Miami
Dwayne Gratz, CB Jacksonville: Bye week
Ryan Griffin, TE Houston: Did not have catch in 23-7 win over Cleveland
Danny Lansanah, LB Tampa Bay: Had two tackles and interception in 27-7 win over Washington
Robert McClain, CB Atlanta: Had four tackles including tackle for loss in 19-17 win over Carolina
Sio Moore, LB Oakland: Had nine tackles in 13-6 loss to San Diego
Dan Orlovsky, QB, Detroit: Did not play in 14-6 loss to Arizona
Kendall Reyes, DT San Diego: Had one tackle in 13-6 win over Oakland
Anthony Sherman, FB Kansas City: Had a 13-yard catch and two tackles in 24-20 win over Seattle
Shamar Stephen, DT Minnesota: Had one tackle in 21-13 loss to Chicago
Jordan Todman, RB Jacksonville: Bye week
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB Tennessee: Had three tackles and two pass breakups in 27-24 loss to Pittsburgh

When Sio Moore had to be taken off the field in a stretcher in a preseason game against Green Bay there were concerns that his promising pro career was over almost before it even got started.

Well, Moore announced that he was healthy and ready to go with a sensational effort in a season-opening 19-14 loss to the New York Jets as Moore not only had a career-high 13 tackles but also a sack and two forced fumbles. Tyvon Branch had a sack in the same game, Robert McClain an interception in the end zone against future Hall of Famer Drew Brees and Shamar Stephen recorded his first career tackle to top the first UConn alumni report of the NFL season.

Will Beatty, Giants: Started at left tackle in 35-14 loss to Lions.
Tyvon Branch, Raiders: Had seven tackles and a sack in 19-14 loss to Jets
Donald Brown, Chargers: Had two carries for minus 2 yards in 18-17 loss to Arizona
Darius Butler, Colts: Had four tackles in 31-24 loss to Broncos
Marcus Easley, Bills: Had two tackles in 23-20 overtime win over Bears
Dwayne Gratz, Jaguars: Had four tackles in 34-17 loss to Eagles
Ryan Griffin, Texans: Had six-yard catch in 17-6 win over Washington
Danny Lansanah, Buccaneers: Had one tackle in 20-14 loss to Panthers
Robert McClain, Falcons: Had five tackles and interception in 37-34 overtime win over Saints
Sio Moore, Raiders; Had 13 tackles and a sack in 19-14 loss to Jets
Dan Orlovsky, Lions: Did not play in 35-14 win over Giants
Kendall Reyes, Chargers: Had one tackle in 18-17 loss to Arizona
Anthony Sherman, Chiefs: Had a four-yard run in 26-10 loss to Titans
Shamar Stephen, Vikings: Had one tackle in 34-6 win over Rams
Jordan Todman: Ran three times for six yards, had a five-yard catch and 36 yards on two kickoff returns in 34-17 loss to Eagles.
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Titans: Had three tackles in 26-10 win over Chiefs

Among the UConn alums in the NFL there may not be a better story than that of Robert McClain.

Taken by Carolina in the seventh round in the 2010 draft, McClain managed a total of 16 tackles in 16 games as a rookie before being let go. He went into camp with Jacksonville the following year but was cut once again. When the Atlanta Falcons signed him, few expected him to be little more than training-camp fodder or perhaps a special-teams performer.

Instead, McClain started nine games over the last two seasons as he recorded 126 tackles and broke up 15 passes. Well, he is continuing to impress folks down in Atlanta.

In a blog posted on the Falcons' official site McClain was named the "Standout of Day 3" as blogger Jay Adams wrote "he truly put together a strong veteran minicamp."

Kendall Reyes records one of his two tackles in Thursday's preseason game

Three former UConn players had multiple tackles as this week's NFL preseason schedule began with four games.

Cornerback Robert McClain had three solo tackles in Atlanta's 27-23 loss to Baltimore.

Lawrence Wilson had two solo tackles including a tackle for a loss as the Chicago Bears defeated San Diego 33-28. In the same game Kendall Reyes also had a pair of solo tackles for the Chargers.

There are four more games tonight with the chance of seeing a former Husky in each of the games.

Marcus Easley looks to build on a seven-catch performance in his preseason debut when the Buffalo Bills plays Minnesota.

Dan Orlovsky is a reserve quarterback with Tampa Bay which plays at New England tonight. Orlovsky did not get into the preseason opener so it will be interesting to see how the quarterback snaps are distributed.

Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith going up against his former team is the top story line in the KC/San Francisco game but it will also be the second game with the Chiefs for  former UConn fullback Anthony Sherman.

Last but certainly not least, Sio Moore and Tyvon Branch lead Oakland against New Orleans.

While the NFL's preseason schedule began last week with Dallas beating Miami in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, tonight will be the first chance for former UConn players to get in on the act.

It begins when Tampa Bay hosts Baltimore at 7:30 p.m. with Dan Orlovsky among the Buccaneer quarterbacks.

Cornerback Robert McClain, one of the most surprising performers during the 2012 season, and the Atlanta Falcons will host Cincinnati at 8 p.m. in a game being televised live by ESPN.

At the same time a pair of members from the 2012 UConn team will be on opposing teams as receiver/return specialist Nick Williams of the Washington Redskins could cross paths with cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson of the Tennessee Titans.

Defensive lineman Kendall Reyes and the San Diego Chargers will play Seattle at 10 p.m. and the game can be seen on the NFL Network beginning at 11 p.m.

It's been a pretty lucrative offseason for some former UConn stars and other state products.

                                                                                       (Associated Press photo)
Former UConn offensive lineman Donald Thomas will go from protecting
future Hall of Fame QB Tom Brady to doing the same for Andrew Luck

Robert McClain earned a bonus of $269,000 for his play with the Atlanta Falcons while Darius Butler was re-signed by Indianapolis.

Former Norwich Free Academy star Matt Shaughnessy and Windsor's Terrance Knighton signed with Arizona and Denver respectively. Shaughnessy signed for one year and Knighton for two years so bigger pay days could be ahead.

However, nobody did better for themselves during this free-agency period than former UConn offensive lineman Donald Thomas.

Thomas, signed a four year contract with $14 million with Indianapolis. It's been quite the ride for Thomas who did not appear in a game in the NFL during the 2010 season and started just one game with the New England Patriots in 2011. However, Thomas opened some eyes with his solid play when injuries led him to start seven games with the New England Patriots last season. Register columnist Chip Malafronte, my predecessor at the UConn football beat writer, spoke to Thomas for his Sunday column.

"It was all a new situation for me. I’ve never been that guy before,” Thomas said  “I feel blessed.

"I was given an opportunity this year and I capitalized on it. I knew I could still play, I just needed a genuine shot. New England gave me that shot. It was a battle for me in training camp just to make the roster.”

Thomas becomes the latest former Husky to join the Colts as Donald Brown, Butler and Scott Lutrus are other former UConn stars on the Colts' active roster. Fellow UConn products Greg Lloyd and Kashif Moore also spent time with the Colts in 2012. Lloyd was acquired in a trade with Philadelphia but did not make the opening-day roster while Moore was picked up by the Colts after Moore was cut by Cincinnati and spent time on the Colts practice squad.

I reached out to the Colts in September thinking that all the former Huskies being signed by the team would make an interesting story and/or blog but the only response I got was "I have not responded to this. Thanks."

Darius Butler is the first of the three former UConn players to have a chance of seeing action in the NFL playoffs when the Indianapolis Colts play at Baltimore tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Butler, a cornerback, was originally drafted by the New England Patriots in 2009. After playing two seasons with the Patriots, he spent last year with the Carolina Panthers before being let go on Aug. 31. Butler was signed by Indianapolis on Sep. 25 and played 11 games for the Colts. Butler has 31 tackles and four interceptions for the Colts. Indianapolis also has two former Huskies on injured reserve. Running back Donald Brown ran for 417 yards in 10 games while linebacker Scott Lutrus was put on the IR in the preseason. Former UConn stars Kashif Moore and Greg Lloyd also spent time on Indianapolis' practice squad this season.

The other two UConn products on playoff teams will have to wait a week to get onto the field.

Donald Thomas, an offensive guard who played in all 16 games and started seven games, is another player who benefited from a change of scenery. Thomas started 13 games during the 2009 and 2010 seasons with the Miami Dolphins. He is in his second season with the Patriots and played a key role in allowing the Patriots to overcome a string of injuries on the offensive line. The Patriots are the second seed in the AFC and will host the highest remaining seed which emerges from this weekend's action on Jan. 13.

Cornerback Robert McClain of the Atlanta Falcons has been one of the biggest surprises of the NFL season. Like Thomas and Butler, he was given an opportunity to play due to injuries to established players.

McClain, who played 16 games for the Carolina Panthers in 2010, was an under the radar offseason signing by the Falcons and he has 61 tackles and an interception this season for Atlanta.

The Falcons are the top seed in the NFC and will host the lowest remaining NFC seed on Jan. 13 at 1 p.m.

Here is a breakdown on how the other UConn products fared this season (not including players on practice squads):

OT Will Beatty, New York Giants: Played 16 games and had 15 starts for Giants
S Tyvon Branch, Oakland: Had 94 tackles and an interception while starting 14 games
WR Marcus Easley: Did not have a reception in three games although he did return two kickoffs for 75 yards
QB Dan Orlovsky, Tampa Bay: Was 4 of 7 for 41 yards in 41-0 loss to New Orleans in only appearance
DT Kendall Reyes, San Diego: Had 28 tackles in 16 games and 3.5 of his 5.5 sacks came in win over New York Jets.
FB Anthony Sherman, Arizona: Played 13 games with four starts. Had no carries but had five receptions for 39 yards
RB Jordan Todman, Jacksonville: Had three rushes for eight yards and one catch for no yards in only game against New York Jets

Former UConn defensive back Robert McClain is certainly making the most of his opportunities with the Atlanta Falcons.

With All-Pro CB Brent Grimes out for the season and then Asante Samuel temporarily forced out of Monday night's game against Denver, McClain got his chance to shine in national television. Almost immediately McClain intercepted future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning to help the Falcons to a 27-21 win.

Today Falcons coach Mike Smith was asked about McClain's impact and Smith made it clear that he expects him to play a bigger role this week when Atlanta plays San Diego.

“Robert McClain is a guy that’s very feisty," Smith said. "I think you saw that in the preseason. Every time he’s gone out on the field, he’s made something happen. He did that again last night. He got in for a couple snaps and had the nice interception and nice return. He’s a guy that has played a little bit in this league, but doesn’t have a whole lot of experience. His role is probably going to change some this week because of his play and because of other circumstances with our defensive group.”

I couldn't help but notice that two of the most severe injuries during week one of the NFL season happened on teams and at positions where former UConn stars could be in line to see expanded roles.

Let's start in Atlanta where Pro Bowl CB Brent Grimes suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Among the reserve cornerbacks on the Falcons' 53-man roster is former UConn product Robert McClain. McClain made the team with a strong showing in the preseason but was inactive for the first game against Kansas City. It will be interesting to see if McClain can work his way into the nickel package with Grimes no longer in the equation.

In Buffalo the season-ending knee injury suffered by David Nelson may lead to Marcus Easley being promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Easley did not have a strong camp but did return a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in the final preseason game against Detroit and has more familiarity with the Bills offense than a player who could be brought in to try to replace Nelson.

Just a quick recap of how former UConn stars fared in exhibition games on Thursday night

WR Marcus Easley, Buffalo: Had one catch for 12 yards in 7-6 loss to Washington
DB Robert McClain, Atlanta: Tied for team lead with five solo tackles and six overall tackles and had an interception in 31-17 loss to Baltimore
DT Kendall Reyes, San Diego: Had four total tackles and 1/2 a sack in 21-13 win over Green Bay
OG Donald Thomas, New England: Got start at LG in 7-6 win over New Orleans
LB Lawrence Wilson, New Orleans: Had four total tackles in 7-6 loss to New England.

There will be six more preseason games on Friday although there are reports that former Huskies Will Beatty (New York Giants OT) and Jordan Todman (Minnesota Vikings RB) will be held out because of back and ankle injuries respectively.

In the Canadian Football League Larry Taylor returned eight punts for 88 yards, had 85 yards on four kickoff returns and ran once for 13 yards in Calgary's 31-20 win over Hamilton. Taylor added to his league league in combined return yardage. He has 1,228 yards between kickoff, punt and missed field goal returns and no other CFL player has hit the 1,000-yard mark.